Job Discussion Forums

[ecubyrd94]

[Lobster]

Yes, I think that the cost of rent for those wanting to live in popular areas is a big factor in Shanghai. A lot of FTs like SH because it's westernized and there\s lots to do. But all those things cost money here. Personally, I think SH is best for people with a rather sedate lifestyle or for those looking for a good time without thought to saving.

RED

[Beyond1984]

"playing white monkey at work ..." -The GWoW

Thanks for reminding me of another of Karl Marx's predictions about the life of proles: you will become alienated from yourself; you will cease to resemble yourself as you strive to conform to your employer's concept of who you are.

White monkey, clap your hands! Strum that guitar! Dance that jig!

When someone is in your head, not you, you are alien.

-HDT

[The Edge]

SH is a horrible city. It is OK to visit occassionally but I could NEVER live there.
As an aside, many Chinese youngsters from our city head to Shanghai and get a bit of a kick out of telling their friends that they live and work in Shanghai. Unfortunately, most are hiding the fact that their hometown counterparts are actually better off and living a better life due to the disparity between wages and cost of living in Shanghai.
Many return back with their tales between their legs.
This is similar to 'some' FT's.

[MisterButtkins]

Many Chinese people who have never visited Beijing or Shanghai think they are the best places ever and that moving there is the best thing a person can do. I tell them Beijing has terrible air pollution. A few have responded with "Why are foreigners always so worried about air pollution."

I can understand to some extent, I guess. I grew up in a small town that I now consider very crappy, and if I'm being honest, I do kind of look down on people who still live there. A few years ago I ran into some people I knew from high school and they were like, "So do you still live here?" and I almost fell out of my chair laughing.

Some foreigners seem to have a similar attitude to the Chinese. A lot of foreigners pretty much only seem interested in Beijing or Shanghai and don't even consider working elsewhere. Why, I'm not sure.

[ecubyrd94]

[Lobster]

[Trevor Wadlow]

I think it depends where you come from and what you are comfortable with. A Londoner, I arrived in Shanghai in 2007. I immediately loved it. When I was bussed out to Qidong in Jiangsu my heart sank. The town resembled a South London housing estate. Nothing wrong with that per se, but I didn't come all this way to see that. Maybe some people hate London too. All I know is that I feel comfortable in Shanghai and have no desire to live anywhere else (aside from Yunnan). It is more 'Chinese' than any other city I have visited and somehow 'normal'. It doesn't look like it was built yesterday, its architecture contains both past and present while pointing to the future. Others have pointed to the myriad things to do. At 24,000 per month my salary is more than adequate. Hand on heart, I could not live in any other city in China. I suspect that if you come from a small town you will feel lost in a big city, but that could happen anywhere in the world.

[LeopoldBloom]

To the OP: absolutely Shanghai is expensive relative to the salary you receive. And that goes for teaching in China in general and don't forget that in today's China you have basic zero worker's right or mobility if you're unhappy in your position or with your boss. Are you on some CEO salary to accept such nonsense?

If you or others reading this are working in China now, the key is to plan your escape. There's something better out there. Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia. Any place is better than China. Saudi Arabia and Korea both have issues at times for sure but at least you'll have a whole lot more money after the experience. China is the "latrine gap" in your work experience and life; an awful place to dump your career for a spell. Did I forgot to mention the air is just plain awful in China and if you are even slightly north you'll be gagging at night?

It may be the "middle kingdom" but it's not even worth a middle finger in my mind-- just get out as fast as you can and forget about it.

Bloom.

[Beyond1984]

"It may be the "middle kingdom" but it's not even worth a middle finger in my mind--" -Leopold Bloom

Worse than Dublin?

I know something of your mind, having read Joyce, but would be interested in knowing why you hate China.

-HDT

On this board, we try to go beyond the "I really love ... I really hate..." postings, the sort that appear to be crayoned by preschoolers.

Honor your readers by providing a reason for your feelings! Become a more interesting writer by deploying the word, "because..."

[Beyond1984]

"How to get some unified solidarity and force a higher wage?"-kungfuman

I equate "unified solidarity" with "unions."

I nominate Kungfuman as the president of the Laowai's Teacher Union of China (LTUC).

-HDT

Unionizing is not impossible. It happened in Chinese Wal-Marts.

[kungfuman]

[LongShiKong]

[LeopoldBloom]

I don't want to go off topic, Beyond1984, so I won't go into the context of my experiences in China on this thread.

My voice needs to be heard and part of the mix. I don't know if China is a better or worse place than early 19th century Dublin, but the land of Big Brother is certainly no utopia, no double-speak there, maybe I could say it like that-- or well perhaps I should say I feel it is actually a distopia...

Bloom.

[LongShiKong]